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Reading comprehension is essential. Try it once in awhile. I too have had great respect and appreciation for BC's work. I think this current path hurts him. So you may just have to deal with that. Have a good day there "woody".

I listened and read all of the commentary from this site regarding the concept of "supporting the team" by being all in for Rich Rod - only it is now clear that this was, as suspected, the "MGORichRod" site. Even today this site continues to post the tired old mantra that Rich Rod didn't get support, the cupboard was bare and a hundred other little complaints.

And now Brady Hoke's potential has been capped by BC at "winning the Big Ten" since BC will not be able to recruit nationally and therefor Michigan will never be an Elite program.

I believe the articulate and thoughtful analysis that was done on this site was instrumental in building traffic and attracting guys like me.

Clearly BC is more about dissing Lloyd Carr and supporting Rich Rod. Now near the end of the hour Brian says "had concluded Rich Rod had to go before the bowl game", well if that is so quit making excuses for the failure that was his tenure at Michigan.

I suggest that wherever RR lands he will need a cheerleader.

I will look forward to hearing that mgoblog.com has returned to providing the best football analytics and commentary on the interwebs.

I offer a sincere thanks for all of the valuable information that you have shared with me via this blog.

Now the real question is: Is MGOBLOG still an Elite Blog? I believe it is. I am looking forward to an "All In For Michigan" post from the creator. If you are not ready to be "All In" for BH that is cool (amazing-but cool). But, the program is moving forward with or without you.

For being the leader of "if you don't support the coach you aren't a real Michigan fan" mantra. Do you think that condemning Brady Hoke because he once worked for Lloyd Carr, is not 35 years old, and hasn't proven himself to your satisfaction is a bit hypocritical?

I love what you do here. I may not always agree with your analysis but I am always impressed with the effort, the science and the fairness.

And to be fair, I have some level of familiarity with your feelings at this time, because I had those feelings no matter how hard I tried to get rid of them for the last two years of the former regime.

I agree that this search was very macular-degeneration-esque in its peripheral only focus on the "national map" resulting in only seeing the Michigan Men at the fringes.

I am hopeful that we don't get a return to LLoyd Ball - though the Lloyd body of work is to be admired.

The much maligned Michigan defense made the stop when they had to yesterday, unlike the 2000 defense in another 1st week of November game. During the last 3 seasons one of the most repeated laments has been " remember when we had a real defense."

Under the lights in Evanston that "real Michigan defense" got beat on a slant pass with 20 seconds left in the game that put Northwestern up 52 to 51, the defense then gave up the 2pt conversion putting the Wildcats up 54 - 51.

Anthony Thomas's fumble while Michigan was running out the clock had set the stage for the Wildcat's come from behind winning score. After the Wildcat's took the lead Drew Henson got the Michigan offense just into Wildcat territory setting up a Hayden Epstein 56 yard field goal attempt (Epstein had already made a 52 yarder) that would have taken this instant classic game into overtime, but a bad snap forced holder John Navarre to throw a pass on the final play of the game.

Michigan endup 9-3 in 2000 with a bowl win over Auburn, Northwestern won a share of the B10 title.

So the critics can cry about the WAC style game played yesterday against the Illini, but this just might be the game that gets the program over the hump and on the way to not only restoring the pride in Michigan football, but the beginning of whole new era of winning.

On this day November 6th 2010, ten years and 2 days after the "real Michigan D" couldn't get a stop when they needed it, the oft-criticized Maize and Blue defense made *the* play they had to have insuring a gritty come from behind, 2 quarterback, 3 circus catch, bone jarring kick return blocking Bowl qualifying victory.

And oh by the way; it just might have been the defensive play that insured the continuation of the Rich Rod era an offensive scheme that is sure to excite legions of Michigan fans.

A sincere thank you for posting this. Perhaps it gives away too much about me when I say that I had lost sight of everything positive about this season. I am absolutely serious when I say to you that seeing that image brought back all of the feelings I had when first seeing him reach up and touch that banner.

Clearly the accumulation of points is not an indicator of the quality of the post. I am going to assume that you believed that your post would be humorous. I know that I have spoken and posted things that passed the "will this make me sound stupid" filter only to be confirmed that yes indeed that made me sound/appear stupid.

I can see that you are capable of totally ignoring Greg Robinson's track record. On one point we do agree this has already been the worst 3 years in the history of the program.

Comprehension is vital to viable discourse. You will note that in my original post I conceded the point that it is possible that the level of talent in the *cupboard* was what it was. The point I made was my belief based upon their history that Ron English and LC and crew would have been better at making lemonade out of lemons.

I am pleased to allow you your opinion. I reject your use of "stupid" in application to me. You may wish to consider that resorting to name calling is the first resort of the uninformed or inarticulate.

Or you may wish to consult football 101 according to Forest Gump "stupid is as stupid does". Go to the game tape (any of them). I rest my case.

I don't mean to be redundant by reposting some statistics that I compiled for another post but am doing so only because I believe that they directly address your question. I considered the following in reaching my conclusions.

Greg Robinson's record and defensive statistics prior to his hiring at Michigan:

Syracuse:

1. 2005 1 - 10 372 ypg SOS = 71 Defensive Rank = 57

2. 2006 4 - 8 399 ypg SOS = 39 Defensive Rank= 107

3. 2007 2 - 10 468 ypg SOS = 48 Defensive Rank= 111

4. 2008 3 - 9 414 ypg SOS= 9 Defensive Rank= 101

What was UM doing during that period?

1. 2005 7 - 5 345 ypg SOS =3 Defensive Rank = 36

2. 2006 11 - 2 268 ypg SOS =2 Defensive Rank = 10

3. 2007 9 - 4 335 ypg SOS =25 Defensive Rank = 24

How about Since Rich Rod arrived:

4. 2008 3 - 9 366 ypg SOS =30 Defensive Rank = 67

And Now with Rich Rod and Greg Robinson:

5. 2009 5 - 7 393 ypg SOS =83 Defensive Rank = 82

6. 2010 5 - 2* 441 ypg SOS =15 Defensive Rank = 105

*Thru Oct 16th

The "LC left the cupboard bare" argument doesn't work for me and in fact is quite frankly too easy and convenient. LC and crew managed to put a competitive group on the field year after year, I have no reason to believe that they wouldn't have managed with the crew they had in place.

It is painfully obvious that Greg Robinson has struggled with managing the defense for the past six years. What you produce and the historical record of that is what is important. Reasons, factoring and explanations in the end are simply excuses. This is a no excuse business. Production is the measurement tool. When you add in the communication breakdowns, undisciplined play and penchant for keep the drive alive penalties with the statistical performance above, I believe a reasonable person would conclude that the "guy in charge" is not getting the job done.

I am old school and have been a supporter of the program ever since a former coach in 1971 told me that I was not talented enough to play for Michigan, but that I might for one of the directional schools. As it turns out I wasn't good enough to play there either. I had to face the cold facts that each of us reaches a point somewhere along the line at which the desire, will and effort to do something can't overcome the lack of physical skills, or in the case of coaching the organizational, motivational and perhaps intellectual skills.

I am All In for Michigan, I always have been and always will be. There is however a level of responsibility that comes along with supporting and loving your government, company or university. That responsibility includes being able to objectively evaluate the abilities of the individuals tasked with the caretaking and performance of the entity.

I look each week for evidence that this attempt at rebuilding is producing viable, sustainable improvement. At some point blind faith and support becomes counterproductive. I believe that point has arrived.

Beyond what you see on the field consider a few numbers and see if you can objectively make the case that any level of improvement if it exists is at a pace that can reasonably be expected to achieve a reasonable positive outcome for the program.

Greg Robinson's record and defensive statistics prior to his hiring at Michigan:

Syracuse:

1. 2005 1 - 10 372 ypg SOS = 71 Defensive Rank = 57

2. 2006 4 - 8 399 ypg SOS = 39 Defensive Rank= 107

3. 2007 2 - 10 468 ypg SOS = 48 Defensive Rank= 111

4. 2008 3 - 9 414 ypg SOS= 9 Defensive Rank= 101

What was UM doing during that period?

1. 2005 7 - 5 345 ypg SOS =3 Defensive Rank = 36

2. 2006 11 - 2 268 ypg SOS =2 Defensive Rank = 10

3. 2007 9 - 4 335 ypg SOS =25 Defensive Rank = 24

How about Since Rich Rod arrived:

4. 2008 3 - 9 366 ypg SOS =30 Defensive Rank = 67

And Now with Rich Rod and Greg Robinson:

5. 2009 5 - 7 393 ypg SOS =83 Defensive Rank = 82

6. 2010 5 - 2* 441 ypg SOS =15 Defensive Rank = 105

*Thru Oct 16th

Does there ever come a point that "All in for Michigan" includes facing the hard truth that perhaps Rich Rod for whatever reason might not be a good fit for Michigan? And what about the hiring of Greg Robinson? Doesn't that speak to the quality of decision making? I believe that Rich Rod is the offensive genius that he has been billed. But overall this team lacks discipline and two and one half years into this process the same mistakes are being made. Special teams are a detriment. The defense is inconsistent at best. Red Zone ball security is awful. And how is it that two years in a row two talented yet very different quarterbacks start out with great promise only to each suffer apparent confidence losses entering Big Ten play?

Andy Reid says in every single presser of his Eagles, "I have to put them in a better position to succeed" as numbing as that statement becomes there is truth in the statement. Both the game against Sparty and yesterday with Iowa in the Big House had the potential to be future fortune turning points. Yet in each case, on the field personnel substitutions, game planning and the apparent lack of ability to adjust failed to put these hard working kids in "a better position to succeed."

I think it is time for a change. I believe that as an All In for Michigan guy it is my responsibility to say so.